Scientists have adopted new technology to help them determine which native species are tempted to eat cane toads by using specially designed baits that are being trialed ahead of interactions with real toads.

DEC research scientist David Pearson said many native animals, especially northern quolls, snakes, goannas and blue-tongue lizards, were poisoned when they ate cane toads.

It is hoped use of the baits can train species to avoid eating toads through taste aversion.

"The small sausage baits are made by biologists by mincing less toxic parts of toads (such as back legs)," Dr Pearson said.

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"This is then injected with a harmless, but nausea-inducing salt.

"The idea is that predators that consume these baits which smell and taste like toads, will feel ill and then not be tempted to consume real toads."

Remote cameras have been set up throughout the Kimberley region near Kununurra and Warmun, and in Mitchell River National Park, to track the interest from native fauna in the baits.

"Although this work is ongoing, it is already clear that a number of target species such as northern quolls, blue-tongue lizards and some goannas will eat the baits," Dr Pearson said.

"A dingo at Mitchell River has also been videotaped picking up the bait then quickly spitting it out, presumably when it tasted the salt compound."

Dr Pearson said this project could not only help with preserving pockets of native predators across the mainland Kimberley but could also provide some protection to island populations from rafting toads during floods.

He said laboratory-based research previously undertaken by the University of Sydney used captive quolls to test if such baits would improve their survival rates when released into toad-infested areas in the Northern Territory.

"Their studies showed that trained quolls did have higher rates of survival and there is some evidence that their offspring do as well, so this research is very encouraging," Dr Pearson said.

He said the camera recordings also captured other interesting fauna, including rare or cryptic species such as nabarlek rock wallabies, scaly-tailed possums and golden-backed tree-rats, plus some surprising behaviour from a dingo rolling happily on a smelly bait.